Russia claims Syria rebels used sarin at Khan al-Assal

Russia says it has evidence showing a projectile that hit a northern Syrian village contained the nerve agent sarin and was most likely fired by rebels.Moscow’s permanent representative to the UN told reporters that the findings were the result of an independent investigation requested by Damascus.

Both sides have accused each other of attacks involving chemical weapons.

The incident in Khan al-Assal, outside Aleppo, on 19 March left at least 27 people dead and dozens injured.

Last month, the UN Human Rights Council’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry said there were reasonable grounds to believe that “limited quantities of toxic chemicals” had been used at Khan al-Assal, as well as in three other attacks.

But it had “not been possible… to determine the precise chemical agents used, their delivery systems or the perpetrator”, it added.

The inquiry also called on the Syrian authorities to allow a team of UN chemical weapons experts into the country – a request Damascus has so far refused because of disputes over access to areas that the UK and French governments also want investigated…